Can RCS replace your WhatsApp, Messenger and Telegram Apps?

1 min

Text messaging, the revolutionary way of communication is not dying out anytime soon but how we text is a completely different debate.

For more than a decade, ever since feature phones and chat rooms have made their way into our lives, the trend of chatting and texting have gained a stronghold in our daily routines. Sadly for telecom companies, this trend is no longer a promise of profits.

According to a report published by Business Insider, the messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Line, WeChat, Viber etc. is making the traditional SMS service obsolete. Meaning, the telecom operators are now losing the major source of their money.

With SMS service close to extinction, the only hope left for carrier’s survival is RCS which stands for Rich Communication Services.

Image Source: Business Insider

Apple introduced its popular iMessage service in 2011 and now the tech giant Google is partnering with various telecom operators to roll out RCS for Android devices.

If you’re wondering how RCS is different from SMS, just imagine features like group chats, read receipts, typing indicators, and high-res photo sharing via your cellular SIM card. RCS will allow users to enjoy all the features provided by the internet applications without the Internet.

Android has a strong market worldwide and RCS would not only further strengthen the operating system’s hold but would also help the telecom companies around the world to compete with the likes of WhatsApp, Messenger etc.